Bowling alley



p 20,1943. BF. SEAMAIQ EI'AL 2,316,991

BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed May 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20,1943.

E. F. SEAMAN El AL BOWLING ALLEY Original Filed may 1', 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 BGWLING ALLEY Ellsworth Seaman,Washington, D. 0., and Jesse B. Lunsford, East Falls Church, Va.

Original application May 1, 1940, Serial No. 332,798. Divided and thisapplication October 19, 1e42, Serial No. 462,586

(Cl. 273-bit) Claims.

This invention relates to bowling alleys and the pins used inconjunction with such alleys. It is a division of our application SerialNumber 332,798, filed May 1, 1940.

An important object of our invention is to provide a bowling alley ofimproved construction in which the factors of chance and error whichheretofore have entered into the games of duck pins, ten pins, and thelike are largely eliminated with the result that the scores compiled bythe players furnish 'a more reliable basis of comparison of theirindividual skill.

Still another object of our invention is to provide signalling means toindicate either audibly or visually, or both, when a player lofts orthrows a ball part way down the alley, instead of rolling it down thealley as required by the rules of play. It is desirable that all playersin a game compete on the same basis and subject to the same conditions.To this end the loft indicator serves to show when a player has changedhis method of play to the extent that a ball is thrown instead of rolleddown the alley. Furthermore, the loft signal informs the manag ment ofthe bowling alley of repeated lofting on the part of a player. Sincecontinued lofting results in damage to the fioor of the alleynecessitating its frequent resurfacing, the practice is to bediscouraged and for this reason some alleys display the sign Do not loftball. By the operation of the loft signal the player is automaticallyreminded of his Weakness and ordinarily he will strive to overcome itwithout placing the management to the embarassing necessity of callingthe matter to his attention.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of our invention,reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a bowling alley including the novelfeatures of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the forward end of the bowling alleyschematically indicating the arrangement of the loft detecting means;and

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram indicating the circuits associated with theloft signalling means.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 is shown a bowling alley I havinga trough 2 extending alon one of its sides and disposed ata slightinclination for the gravitational return of balls 3 from the rear end ofthe alley, occupied by the pins t (only seven pins of the usual tenbeing shown) to an elevated rack 5 located adjacent a runway 6 at theforward end of the alley where the players stand when rolling the ballsdown the alley in playing the games of duck pins, ten pins, and thelike. A narrow line 1 is customarily marked upon the floor of the alleybetween the alley I and the runway 6 which, according to the rules, noplayer is permitted to cross in his delivery of a ball down the alleyWithout incurring a penalty against his score.

Preferably located along one side of the alley at the forward end withinconvenient view of the players is an indicator board 8. This indicatorboard is provided with a bank of electric lamps 9 arranged in wedgeformation, each lamp corresponding to the position of a pin 4 in set-upposition on the alley. The lamps of this pin diagram are individuallyconnected to contacts embedded in the floor of the alley and designatethe spotting position of the pins, so that when a pin is in set-upposition a metal plate on its base bridges these contacts and closes acircuit to illuminate the lamp in the pin diagram on the indicator boardcorresponding to that particular pin on the alley. This indicator boardfacilitates keeping score and obviates error when pins left standing onthe alley at the conclusion of a players period of play are hiddenbehind other pins. Such a board also serves to increase the interest ofspectators whose View of the alley is frequently obscured by theplayers. In order to protect the lamps, the diagram board may be coveredby a panel Hi having glass windows over the lamps and, if desired, thesewindows may be numbered to designate the pin positions.

[also upon the indicator board are two additional lamps H and I2designated respectively Foul and Loft. The foul lamp l I will light "anda bell l3 connected in the same circuit will ring when a player crossesthe foul line 1 marked upon the alley and the loft lamp t2 willilluminate and bell I3 will sound when a player lofts or throws a ballpart way down the alleys.

The structure and operation of the foul indicating apparatus is fullydescribed and claimed in application Ser. No. 332,798 filed May 1, 1940.

The loft detector controlling the loft lamp it? comprises means fordirecting two beams of light, indicated by dotted lines [5 and H3 inFigure 2, horizontally across the alley short distances beyond the foulline and at an elevation above the alley such that both beams aresequentially intercepted by a ball rolling in the normal Way down thealley (or, alternatively, rolling down the gutter which extendsalongside the alley), but only the second light beam it beingintercepted when the ball is lofted in such a manner as to jump or passabove the first light beam [5.

The first light beam |5 is directed from a light source ll located onone side of the alley so as to impinge upon a photoelectric relay l8located upon the opposite side of the alley. This photoelectric relay isinterposed in a circuit |9 including a source of electrical energy 20and a relay 2| as indicated in Figure 3. The second light beam IElikewise is directed from a light source 22 at one side of the alleyupon a photoelectric relay 23 at the other side or" the alley interposedin a circuit 24 including a source of electrical energy 25 and a relay26.

A hinged switch bar 21 is connected to one end of a conductor 28, whichconductor at its other end taps the main line A of the building lightingsystem. A spring 29 tends to draw the switch bar 21 into engagement witha contact 30,. but While the relay 2| is energized the switch bar isattracted and maintained out of engagement with said contact. Theconductor 28 includes a solenoid 3| within which there slides a softiron plunger 32, the arrangement being such that energization of thesolenoid 3| draws the plunger to the left. A hinged switch bar 33 isconnected to one end of a conductor 34 leading to a contact 35. A spring36 tends to draw the switch bar 33 into engagement with a contact 31,but while energy is flowing through the relay 26* the switch bar is heldaway from said contact. The conductor 34 includes therein a solenoid 38surrounding the plunger 32 and which when energized tends to draw thearmature to the right. A contact 33 companion to contact 35 is connectedby a conductor 40 to main line A. A conductor 4| extends between thepivoted switch bar 33' and a contact 42; while a contact 43,. companionto contact 42, is connected to main line A by a conductor 44, andinterposed in this circuit is the electrically operable signal bell |4mounted adjacent the indicator board.

The plunger 32 has fixed thereon a bridging member 45 which, in itsmovement to the left with the plunger, closes the pair of contacts 35and 39, and, in its movement in the opposite direction, closes the pairof contacts 42 and 43. A conductor 43 leading from contact 3!] and a.conductor 4! leading from contact 31 connect these contacts to the mainline D. A. conductor 48 in parallel with conductor 44 extends betweenthe latter conductor and the winding of a solenoid operated relay 49comprising. a plunger 50 carrying a bridging member 5|. The other end ofthe winding of relay 43 is connected to main line A through a conductor52. One of a pair of contacts 53 on the bottom of the solenoid isconnected to the main line A by a conductor 54 having interposed incircuit therewith the loft lamp l2; while the other contact 53 on thesolenoid is joined to the main line D- by a conductor 55. Normally theplunger will be depressed to maintain the bridging member out ofconnecting relation with the pair of contacts 53 on the solenoid, butwhen the solenoid is energized the plunger will move to the dotted lineposition of Figure 3 to connect these contacts and complete a circuit toilluminate loft lamp |2 on the indicator board.

From the description it will be seen that when the light beam isimpinging on photoelectric relay |8 is intercepted, the circuit I3 ismomentarily interrupted releasing relay 2| and allowing contact 39 to beengaged by the hinged switch bar 2'1 under the urge of spring 29. Theshort period of time during which the switch bar engages the contact issuiiicient to cause a current to flow from main line A, throughconductor 28, including the solenoid 3|, switch bar 21, contact 30 andconductor 46, to main line D. This current energizes the solenoid 3|which draws the plunger 32 to the left causing the bridging member 45 tomove from its dotted line position to close the gap between contacts 35and 39. This conditions the circuit controlled by the relay 2% so thatwhen the second light beam I6 is intercepted by the ball, the current incircuit 24 will be momentarily interrupted, causing the relay 26 torelease hinged switch bar 33 and allow the latter to be pulled by thespring 36 into engagement with contact 31. Current then flows from mainline A, through conductor 40, bridging member 45, conductor 34,including the solenoid 38, switch bar 33, and through conductor 4'! tomain line D. The solenoid 38 moves the plunger 32 to the right to breakthe connection between contacts 35 and 39 and restore the armature toits original dotted line position closing contacts 42 and 43.

Now in th case of a lofted ball, only the second light beam in isintercepted. This causes the relay 2% in circuit 24 to be tie-energized,releasing the switch bar which is drawn by spring 36 into engagementwith contact 31. A current is consequently caused to flow from main lineA, through conductor 52, the solenoid winding of relay 49, conductor 48,conductor 44, across bridging member 45, through conductor 4|, switchbar and conductor 41, thence to main line D. This current operates therelay 49 to close the circuit constituted of the conductors 54 and 55and including the loft lamp l2, which latter becomes lighted. The belll4 interposed in the circuit including the conductor 44 is also soundedmomentarily for the duration of the second light beam interruption.

If a player should make a loft only one of the two light beams directedacross the alley Will be intercepted. Interception of the second lightbeam it without interception of the first beam l5 actuates relay 43.This causes the bell I4 to sound and the lamp l2 marked Loft on theindicator board to illuminate in a manner which has previously beenexplained. lfhe relay 49 may be reset, either manually or electrically,by means not shown but corresponding to those described in applicationSer. No. 332,798 filed May l, 19%. This extinguishes the Lci't light onthe indicator board. It will be readily apparent that relay 49 might bearranged to shunt out the contacts on the bowling alley and preserve theindicator board in its then fixed condition when a ball is lofted,regardless of Whether or not any pins are knocked down on the roll. Inthis event the penalty for a lofted ball would be the same as for a.foul; i. e., the player loses the number of pins he knocked down withthe ball when the loft was committed. Under ordinary conditions of play,however, the sounding of the bell to indicate the occurrence of a loftwill probably be sufficient.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit .or essential characteristics of the invention, and

the present embodiment is therefore to b considered as illustrative andnot restrictive, and all changes which come within the meaning andvrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling alley, a loft detecting device comprising, a normallyclosed circuit including a signaling device, a plurality of means fordirecting light beams across the alley at spaced intervals in a positionto be sequentially intercepted by a ball rolling down the alley,photoelectric means responsive to the simultaneous impingement of all ofsaid light beams thereon for maintaining said circuit open, and meansincluding said photoelectric means responsive to the sequentialinterception of said light beams for maintaining said circuit open,whereby when the light beams are not sequentially intercepted thecircuit including the signaling device is normal and said device isactuated to indicate that the ball has not followed the proper path forit.

2. In a bowling alley, a loft detecting device comprising, a pair ofprimary circuits each including a photoelectric relay, means fordirecting two light beams across the alley in spaced relation so as tobe no'rinally sequentially intercepted by a ball rolling down the alley,each light beam being directed toward the light sensitive portion of therespective photoelectric relay, a secondary circuit including asignaling device, two switches in said secondary circuit, meansresponsive to the opening of the first of said primary circuits byinterruption of the first of said light beams for opening one of theswitches in said secondary circuit and means responsive to the openingof the second of said primary circuits by interruption of th second beamof light for closing the second switch in said secondary circuit,whereby, in the case of a loft, where the first beam is not interceptedby the ball and the second beam is intercepted thereby, both switches inthe secondary circuit will be simultaneously closed to energize aSignaling device.

3. In a bowling alley, a loft detecting device comprising, a pair ofprimary circuits each including a photoelectric relay, means fordirecting two light beams across the alley in spaced relation so as tobe normally sequentially intercepted by a ball rolling down the alley,each light beam being directed toward the light sensitive portion of therespective photoelectric relay, a secondary circuit, two switches insaid secondary circuit, means responsive to the opening of the first ofsaid primary circuits by interruption of the first of said light beamsfor opening one of the switches in said secondary circuit, meansresponsive to the opening of the second of said primary circuits byinterruption of the second beam of light for closing the second switchin said secondary circuit, a tertiary circuit, a signaling device insaid tertiary circuit, a relay in said secondary circuit adapted uponenergization to close said tertiary circuit to actuate the signalingdevice and means for holding said relay in tertiary circuit closingposition, whereby, as in the case of a loft, when the first primarycircuit is not opened and the second one is, the secondary circuit willbe closed energizing the relay therein which will hold the tertiarycircuit closed to give an enduring signal indicating that a loft hasoccurred.

4. In a bowling alley, a loft detecting device comprising, a pair ofprimar circuits each including a photoelectric relay, means fordirecting two light beams across the alley in spaced relation so as tobe normally sequentially intercepted by a ball rolling down the alley,each light beam being directed to the light sensitive portion of therespective photoelectric relay, a secondary circuit including asignaling device, two switches in said secondary circuit, meansresponsive to the opening of the first of said primary circuits byinterruption of the first of said light beams for opening one of theswitches in said secondary circuit, means responsive to the opening ofthe second of said primary circuits by interruption of the second beamof light for closing the second switch in said secondary circuit, atertiary circuit, another signaling device in said tertiary circuit, arelay in said secondary circuit adapted upon energization to close saidtertiary circuit to actuate the signaling device therein, and means forholding said relay in tertiary circuit closing position, whereby, as inthe case of a loft, when the first primary circuit is not opened and thesecond one is, the secondary circuit will be momentarily closedenergizing the signaling device and the relay therein, the latter ofwhich will hold the tertiary circuit closed to give an enduring signalindicating that a loft has occurred.

5. In a bowling alley, a loft detecting device comprising, a pair ofprimary circuits each including a photoelectric relay, means fordirecting two light beams across the alley in spaced relation so as tobe normally sequentially intercepted by a ball rolling down the alley,each light beam being directed toward the light sensitive portion of therespective photoelectric relay and serving to maintain the respectiveprimary circuit closed, a relay in each primary circuit, two secondarycircuits each controlled and normally maintained in open position by theenergized relay in the respective primary circuit, a switch located inthe secondary circuit controlled by the second primary circuit, meansresponsive to the closing of the secondary circuit controlled by thefirst primary circuit for opening said switch, means including saidswitch responsive to the subsequent de-energization of the relay in thesecond primary circuit for restoring said switch to closed position inthe secondary circuit, the i e-energization of the relay in the secondprimary circuit caused by the reestablishment of the light beam afterthe passag of the ball immediately restoring the secondary circuitcontrolled thereby to open position, and a signaling device in thesecondary circuit controlled by the first primary circuit, whereby asignal is given when the first light beam is not intercepted and thesecond is while if both are sequentially intercepted no signal will begiven.

ELLSWORTH F. SEAMAN. JESSE B. LUNSFORD.

